The Club of Runners Who Hate Running!

I'm going to say something that will probably sound anti-runner: sometimes I hate running.

Yes, I said it.

And I'm not alone. There's a silent, but large, club of runners who, even though we love what running brings, don't necessarily enjoy the process of putting one foot in front of the other for miles and miles.

It's not running, it's the consequences

I love how I feel after running. I love the mental clarity, the energy, the feeling of having done something powerful with my body. I love seeing my progress on Strava, the photos with my friends at the end of the workout, the coffee and bread afterwards, the running memes that only we understand.
But the act of running itself... often feels like a punishment. Sometimes I get bored. My chest burns. My legs feel like they weigh a ton. I wonder why I'm not in bed watching a show and eating chilaquiles.

And yet, I keep running.

What kind of toxic relationship is this?

We've been sold the idea that if you don't love running, you're not a "true runner." That if you don't wake up excited at 5 a.m. with a smile to do your long run, you don't belong to this tribe.

But it's okay to hate the process and still love what it represents.

Maybe you're one of those who run because it's their therapy. Or because they want to prove something to the world. Or because they're fighting their anxiety. Or because they want to grow old strong, or because their group crush also runs (and that's motivation enough).

No matter the reason. You are here, and that makes you a runner.

Running is a choice, not a romance.

What nobody says is that running is hard. It hurts. It's tiring. It makes you look like a walking dead person. And that's exactly what makes it valuable: you do it even if you don't always like it.

Like going to the gym. Like going to therapy. Like eating salad when you want pizza. You do it because you know it builds you up. That it transforms you. That it makes you feel capable.

Welcome to the club

This blog is for you, weird runner. The one who complains while running but doesn't miss a single outing. The one who hates the first 5 km but smiles at kilometer 10. The one who swears they won't sign up for another race... and a week later is already looking for flights for another marathon.

Yes, running can be horrible sometimes. And it can also be the best thing that has ever happened to us.

You are not alone.

See you on the next run... even if it's with a "why the hell am I doing this?" look on your face.